Key Auto Group of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, plans to build a 4.8-million-dollar Chevrolet dealership on Sykes Mountain Avenue in White River Junction. The group, which owns 11 car dealerships, will join a number of other automotive franchises along the avenue. It will be built on land previously owned by Valley Land Corp., just to the east of the former Upper Valley Lanes and Games, where Prime Subaru is constructing its new dealership.

Plans are to have the dealership open by December. It will consist of a 24,900-square-foot building and will employ around 35 people. The space will include an auto repair shop and room for 338 cars. White River Junction will join Key Auto’s family of dealerships in Rutland, Rochester, Nashua, Salem, Somersworth, North Hampton, and Portsmouth.

Key Auto is bringing Chevy back to the Upper Valley after the 2015 closure of Auto Miller Group’s Chevrolet and Cadillac dealership in Lebanon. It joins four other companies selling cars along what is becoming known as “Auto Avenue” and includes the new Prime Subaru, Gateway Ford, White River Toyota, and White River Hyundai.

The Hartford Planning and Zoning Department gave Key Auto approval to divide their 65-acre land purchase into three lots. One is the 8.2-acre lot where the Chevy dealership will be located. Next to it is a 5.43-acre lot, which gives Key Auto the flexibility to bring in another dealership in the future. The remaining 51 acres are set aside for undetermined future use.